1912 South Dakota gubernatorial election
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| Elections in South Dakota |
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The 1912 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent Republican Governor Robert S. Vessey declined to run for re-election to a third term. Lieutenant Governor Frank M. Byrne won the Republican primary to succeed Vessey, and then faced State Senator Edwin S. Johnson, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Byrne only narrowly defeated Johnson, winning just 49% of the vote to Johnson's 46%, the closest gubernatorial election since 1898.
Primary elections
[edit]Primary elections were held on June 4, 1912.
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Edwin S. Johnson, former State Senator[1]
- P. F. Wickhem, former State Senator[2]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Edwin S. Johnson | 7,092 | 55.32% | |
| Democratic | P. F. Wickhem | 5,727 | 44.68% | |
| Total votes | 12,819 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Frank M. Byrne, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
- George W. Egan, disbarred attorney, 1910 Republican candidate for Governor
- Loomis S. Cull, Registrar of the Rapid City United States Land Office[4]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank M. Byrne | 38,660 | 51.74% | |
| Republican | George W. Egan | 29,481 | 39.46% | |
| Republican | Loomis S. Cull | 6,576 | 8.80% | |
| Total votes | 74,717 | 100.00% | ||
Prohibition primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- O. W. Butterfield, Prohibition candidate for Governor in 1910
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | O. W. Butterfield | 636 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 636 | 100.00% | ||
Socialist primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Samuel Lovett
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist | Samuel Lovett | 636 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 636 | 100.00% | ||
General election
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Edwin S. Johnson, Democratic
- Frank M. Byrne, Republican
- O. W. Butterfield, Prohibition
- Samuel Lovett, Socialist
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank M. Byrne | 57,160 | 48.51% | −9.84% | |
| Democratic | Edwin S. Johnson | 53,850 | 45.70% | +9.81% | |
| Socialist | Samuel Lovett | 3,479 | 2.95% | — | |
| Prohibition | O. W. Butterfield | 3,339 | 2.83% | −1.42% | |
| Majority | 3,310 | 2.81% | −19.65% | ||
| Turnout | 117,828 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Edwin S. Johnson". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ "P. F. Wickhem". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 631.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Cull to Stay in the Race". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, S.D. January 25, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2021.